The Forester softball team began Midwest Conference play with
four victories in five games at the MWC Classic in Janesville,
Wisconsin, over the weekend (April 10-11). Lake Forest defeated
Carroll University 18-4 in five innings, Lawrence University 4-2,
and Ripon College 7-5 on Saturday. On Sunday the Foresters routed
Beloit College 10-2 in five innings before falling 5-1 to St.
Norbert College.
The Foresters tallied 21 base hits against Carroll to match the
third-highest single-game total in team history. Senior Mallory Norton (Chicago, Ill./Resurrection) had one in each of the five
innings, including doubles in the first two frames, to become just
the third player in program history with five base hits in a
contest. Classmate Shelby Neill (Manitou Beach, Mich./Lenawee
Christian) was 4-for-4 with a double and freshman Megan Harkins
(Homewood, Ill./Homewood-Flossmoor) 3-for-3 with a triple. Senior
Jill Pfund (Morenci, Mich./Morenci) doubled and drove in four runs
while Norton, Harkins, and senior Tracy Rainey (Roselle, Ill./Lake
Park) each added three RBI, including the 100th of Norton's career.
Rainey homered in the fourth inning and crossed home plate three
times in the game. Fellow senior Jeanette Andresen (Woodridge,
Ill./Downers Grove South) also scored three runs in the
contest.
Lake Forest scored six runs in each of the first two innings, one
in the third, and five in the fourth. All four Lady Pioneer runs
were scored in the bottom of the fourth.
Forester freshman starting pitcher Kelly Chesnut (Channahon,
Ill./Minooka) pitched three-plus innings to earn the victory.
Lake Forest started fast again against Lawrence, scoring twice in
the bottom of the first inning on RBI-singles by freshman Nikki Miller (Starkville, Miss./Starkville Academy) and Andresen. After
the Vikings scored in the top of the third, Rainey led off the
bottom of the frame with a double and later scored on a passed
ball. Both teams scored again in the fifth, the Foresters when a
groundout by Neill plated Norton, who had led off the inning with a
single.
Andresen had three of Lake Forest's seven base hits in the contest
and Rainey and Norton each scored twice.
Freshman pitcher Jordan Ratliff (Petersburg, Mich./Summerfield)
pitched all seven innings, striking out six batters while allowing
seven hits and two walks.
Andresen drew a two-out, bases-loaded walk in the top of the first
inning against Ripon to give the Foresters another early lead.
Rainey belted a two-run homer, her second round-tripper of the day
and third this season in the second inning. A wild pitch had scored
a run earlier in the frame and Miller doubled in Norton with the
other tally. Lake Forest extended the lead to 7-0 in the fifth when
a passed ball scored Andresen and a wild pitch plated Neill.
Rainey, Norton, and fellow senior Sam Pinsonneault (Manchester,
N.H./New Hampton) each had a pair of base hits in the contest.
Rainey established new program records with her 115th career run
scored in the second inning and her 170th career hit in the
fourth.
Molly Thomsen (Rumford, R.I./St. Mary Academy) became the third
Forester freshman pitcher to earn a victory on the day. She held
the Red Hawks scoreless until a five-run fifth inning. Sophomore
Cami Daun (Sheboygan, Wis./Sheboygan North) recorded the final out
of the frame in relief and tossed a scoreless sixth inning. She did
not allow a run while surrendering just three base hits in as many
innings on the day. Ratliff pitched the seventh for her first
career save.
Lake Forest went without a first inning run for the first time on
the weekend in Sunday's opener against Beloit. The Foresters scored
five times in the second, inning, however. Andresen hit her third
home run of the season with one out to start the rally. Sophomore
Danielle Gore (Arlington Heights, Ill./Hersey) drove in a pair of
runs on a base hit with two outs and the bases loaded and Rainey
followed with another two-run single.
Five consecutive batters drove in a run in the bottom of the
fourth. Rainey and Norton started the run with back-to-back RBI
singles and advanced an extra base on a wild pitch. After a
pitching change, Miller singled in Rainey, Andresen doubled in
Norton, and Neill drove in the last run on a groundout.
Andresen was a triple shy of the cycle and Rainey also had three
base hits in the contest. Rainey also drove in three runs while
Gore and Andresen had two RBI apiece.
Thomsen pitched all five innings and allowed just two fifth-inning
runs on four base hits while striking out two batters and walking
one. She evened her record at 3-3 and lowered her earned run
average to 3.50 on the season.
Lake Forest wasted little time taking the lead against St. Norbert.
Harkins led off the game with a double. She then stole third base
and scored when the throw from the catcher went into left field.
Unfortunately for the Foresters, it would be the only run they
scored in the contest.
The Green Knights tied the score in the bottom of the second inning
and then rallied for four runs in the fifth.
Miller had two of Lake Forest's four base hits in the game.
Andresen posted a team-high .571 batting average in the five MWC
Classic games combined. Norton was next at .563, followed by Rainey
at .533 and Harkins at an even .500. Rainey led the squad with
seven runs scored, eight RBI, a .632 on-base percentage, and a
1.000 slugging percentage. Norton is now batting a team-high .474
on the season and has raised her career batting average over the
.400 mark. At .401, she currently ranks second in team history
behind Rainey at .405.
Lake Forest will host Wheaton College in a non-conference
doubleheader Wednesday afternoon (April 14) at 3:00. The Foresters
will resume league play next weekend (April 17-18) with two games
at Illinois College on Saturday and two more at Monmouth College on
Sunday. Both doubleheaders will begin at 1:00 p.m.
May 13, 2010
Megan Harkins Named Forester Athlete of the Week
April 29, 2010
Jordan Ratliff Repeats as Forester Athlete of the Week
April 25, 2010
Foresters Sweep Grinnell to Finish 12-1 in Conference Play
April 22, 2010
Jordan Ratliff Named Forester Athlete of the Week
April 17, 2010
Lake Forest Wins 7-1 and 5-2 at Illinois College
April 15, 2010
Tracy Rainey Named Forester Athlete of the Week
April 14, 2010
Foresters Fall Twice to Visiting Wheaton College
March 30, 2010
Jordan Ratliff Named Midwest Conference Pitcher of the Week
March 30, 2010
Lake Forest Wins the Opener, Ties Game Two at Chicago
March 18, 2010
Mallory Norton Named Forester Athlete of the Week
March 10, 2010
Lake Forest Splits Two More Games in Florida on Wednesday